Evaluation and improvement of spatial management in the cattle farms of Tekirdag region by using geographical information systems

In this research, it was aimed to analyze suitable areas for cattle farms in Tekirdağ region and to establish a geographic supported database of the existing cattle farms. Within the scope of this study; distance to settlements, drinking water reservoirs basin protection areas, distance to other water reservoirs, distance to rivers, distance to irrigation and drainage channels, proximity to pasture lands, land use ability, proximity to animal drinking water ponds, proximity to irrigation ponds, slope, population potential, milk processing potential, meat processing potential, distances to main roads and proximity to secondary roads were selected as criteria for site selection process. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were used in site selection process. In the other part of the study; land studies were carried out and data were collected for 90 farms in Tekirdağ province. A database was created in the Geographic Information Systems environment for these farms. As a result of the study, the querying samples were obtained in the database. Six classes were created in suitability analysis. The coverage areas of "Most Suitable", "Very Suitable", "Moderately Suitable", "Less Suitable", "Least Suitable" and "Extraction" classes were found as 23.75, 736.82, 2031.30, 460.92, 21.23 and 3038.89 km2 respectively. The percentage areas of "Most Suitable", "Very Suitable", "Moderately Suitable", "Less Suitable", "Least Suitable" and "Extraction" classes were determined as 0.37%, 11.67%, 32.18%, 7.30%, 0.34% and 48.14 %respectively. According to the distribution of the farms in terms of suitability classes, it was determined that 6.60% were in the classes of "Least Suitable" and "Less Suitable", 18.90% were in the class of "Moderately Suitable", 5.60% were in the class of "Very Suitable" and 68.90% were in the class of "Extraction". In addition, it has been determined that many mistakes were made in the structural planning process. Only, 31.1% of investigated farms were built as projected, it was thought that this situation arised many mistakes regarding planning process. As a result; it was suggested that following existing situation of animal farms using geographic based data management and making spatial plans for new farms. Keywords: Site selection, database, GIS, AHP, suitability area analysis